I moved. Yes, technically, I move everyday; but for the sake of my testimony, let’s think a little more figuratively. Like for example, following a call from God to go to the other side of the world on a short term mission trip.

No, I did not just use the term move to be cute or clever; it really does tie into my story. Last summer I attended CIY Move with my youth group and came back with a task, a promise to fulfill. You know those little cards that were handed out to everyone? Well, mine just so happened to say something that changed my life in a bigger way than I had ever anticipated.

I have never had anything against mission trips. Actually, I thought they looked pretty awesome. At the same time, I never really felt the urge to go on one, especially not half way around the world. So when I received the card that said “commit to spending two weeks overseas next summer”, I was beyond terrified. Although over the next year I was stressed, frustrated, scared, unsure, and just about every other emotion you can possibly imagine, I was willing and faithful to my promise because I knew God had given me that card for a reason.
At the end of June, I met with nine other people whom I have never met before and boarded a plane bound to Asia. The following two weeks became one of the greatest experiences of my life as I got to know some fantastic people and see some truly inspiring things.

This country is not at all what I expected, but I guess I didn’t really know what to expect. I think a lot of people look at this place negatively because of their government and a lot of the policies they have. The people there don’t view their government as a complete roadblock though. They look at it more as an opportunity, in a way. Christians are doing amazing things throughout that country. Through orphanages, English teaching camps and schools, major companies, the Art district, and in everyday society Christians are making a difference. The fact that the government limits the people’s knowledge and choice of religion only makes them more curious to learn about Christianity. Yes, there are struggles with the government, some that seem almost impossible to overcome, but that only makes them more determined to try and try again.

I could talk forever about the things I saw and how it really changed me, but I would much rather you go out and see things for yourself. Not just in Asia, but all over the world. I thank God every day for the opportunity he presented me with and I know I will never forget what I have experienced through that trip.

Jessica Heck

CIY has partnered with international churches for years in the development of youth ministry.

We recently received this email from our staff members that are in SE Asia partnering with native youth conference directors and youth workers to share ideas about youth conferencing and youth ministry in general.

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Things here are going great.  We will begin teaching at the conference today.  We are using a large room located at a school for the blind.  Last night when we arrived, they had all the volunteers getting the conference ready.  They were setting up the stage, sorting registration material, doing sound checks, getting their free t-shirts…it felt like 5 pm on a Sunday night of MOVE in Michigan with BC staff and interns!  It was awesome.

Today will be interesting.  It will probably be at least 120 degrees in the room.  No AC, metal roof…

At first, we wondered what it would look like to partner with people who already have great youth conferences.  Here are some examples:

Last night, we met a guy named Ako.  He came up 6 hours from the south.  He already has a camp that locks out at 400 people.  It’s a 5 day youth conference.  He takes care of the program, food, lodging,…everything.  He has to send out invitations and is forced to turn youth away every year.  He wants to grow, but can’t.  We spoke to him last night and he was eating up ideas.  He brought 15 of his adult and student volunteers to both help and learn.  There is another guy coming from the north that has a conference of 500 youth.  Same story, different verse.  He is traveling a couple of days just to get help and ideas.

Youth conferences here are alive and well.  God is moving in some powerful ways raising up the youth of this country to be His church!  It reminds me of when I was first in youth ministry, and I just needed ideas, support, resources and direction.

Well, that’s enough for now.  We are doing well.  Jesus has been good to us in all areas.  We are grateful in how He provides not only opportunity, but provision as well.

Network for the Homeless located in Tacoma Washington provides support to families trying to escape from their cycle of poverty. This includes moving families with their children from the streets, cars, or shelters to transitional housing and helping them become self-sufficient.

To kind of give you an outline of what the group over spring break did, I will walk through the week with you. Monday the group went to a property called Venture; this is where families enter into their program for 12-18 months. The goal is for them to eventually transition out, and live on there own. Greg, one of the missionaries, prepared us as we were about to enter into the first apartment. This apartment is hard to describe in words. There were piles upon piles of stuff everywhere. It looked like a tornado had gone through this place. Food was everywhere. The kitchen had dishes with molding food sitting out, the smell was very strong. Pill bottles were laying around everywhere. You name it, we found it in apartment #2. The students walked around in shock. Greg encouraged them to pray for this family. A lot of heartache had taken place here. Pray over the rooms, pray as you clean.

The students started right away, they owned this project. Throughout the week the students were proud at what apartment they were in. Within the 4 days this apartment was transformed. Cleaned, odor free, painted, spotless. The students did an excellent job. This was by far the biggest of the projects. But many other things in this apartment complex were done as well. Holes were patched, rooms painted, mold was scraped out of windows. A man that looks after the place, Don, was moved into the apartment next door. This is just one of the properties that Network for the Homeless owns that exist to help out families in need.

Another amazing thing Network does is a car ministry. People from all over the country donate cars. These cars are then cleaned up, fixed by a volunteer mechanic, and then given to a family. At the beginning of the week, a van that was given to Network to be used by a family was cleaned out. It previously had sat for awhile and was infested with mold. By the end of the week it was given to a family who has three kids and is expecting twins. We were blessed to be apart of that.

How can you help? Well there are several things you could do. You can donate online at www.networktacoma.org/. How many of you know someone who has a car that they are not using. Maybe it is sitting in their garage…not being used. How awesome would it be to have that donated so that a family in need could use it? This would help them get back and forth to jobs, job interviews, getting to their classes to finish their GED, grocery store etc. If you know someone has a car they could part with or if you personally have a car to get rid of, please contact us. We will figure out a way to get it to Tacoma, Washington.

Yesterday (Sunday) was a good day of worship, teaching, preaching and fellowship. In the afternoon we were able to travel to Boquette, a beautiful area in the mountains that is a popular attraction in Panama for the fantastic vistas and coffee plantations. While there, we saw some incredible rainbows and we were reminded again of the creativity and power of God. In the evening, we were blessed to hear one of our host missionaries, Joy Cronin, tell her story of how God has led her to Panama and how He is leading her day by day in this place. It was inspiring for all of us … we have been called higher in our walks with the Lord!

Today is our final day in the city of David. After our quiet time and devotional time this morning, we will be going to the beach in the morning and shopping for mementos in the afternoon. This evening we will have the privilege of hearing the story of host missionaries, Glen and Sherrie Russel. All of the missionaries are amazing examples of deep, deep faith and hard, hard workers. These special moments are very informative for our team and they provide an opportunity and incentive for us to uphold these dear people in our prayers. We hope that in some way it is also an encouragement to them.

We have met so many wonderful people … the missionaries, our host families, brothers and sisters in the churches in David and in the various mountain areas. Our eyes have been opened once again to how big and glorious the kingdom of God truly is … praise His holy Name! Our prayer is that this expanded vision will stir us to share the gospel in whatever sphere of influence God gives us so we can get in on what God is doing as He calls all nations to Himself!

Tomorrow we will be leaving very early in the morning to head for Panama City in preparation for our departure from the country on Wednesday. We will also have the opportunity to tour the Panama Canal and do some sightseeing/shopping in the city. The following day we return to Miami, Lord willing.

This may be the last update until our return to the States. Thank you again for your prayers. Please continue them as we have more opportunities to discover what God wants to show us in these final days of the trip.

Because it matters, Greg Hafer